Funding pledge after casino axe

PRIME Minister Gordon Brown has said Blackpool and Manchester will benefit from a "very substantial" regeneration package following the scrapping of the Government's plans for a Las Vegas-style super-casino. Blackpool lost out to Manchester in its bid to have a new casino before the idea was finally killed off by ministers this week.

PRIME Minister Gordon Brown has said Blackpool and Manchester will benefit from a "very substantial" regeneration package following the scrapping of the Government's plans for a Las Vegas-style super-casino.

Blackpool lost out to Manchester in its bid to have a new casino before the idea was finally killed off by ministers this week.

At Prime Minister's question time, Mr Brown said: "We are in favour of a very substantial scheme of regeneration.

"When we cancelled the super-casino, our view has always been that not only Manchester but Blackpool should have more measures of regeneration that are allocated to them by support from the Government."

Blackpool North and Fleetwood Labour MP Joan Humble said there was "huge disappointment in Blackpool when we were not awarded a super-casino after years of campaigning".